Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-05-15
, JACK T0WNLEl'S DEBTS.


young Englishman, gifted with neither
vices o virtues of IA character suili-
ciently obtrusive TO distinguish him from
hundreds, or even thousands, Of his
fellows. He was, that is Ia say, a good
fellow enough, with a handsome face,
agreeable manner and a disposition
which rendered him just rs prone TO
help a friend out of a scraIT or take up
the cudgels in defense Of a lady's reputa-
ton rs 10 bet, gamble and indulge in
whatever amuSements or designations
happened TO lie obtainable without exer-
ton. But Jack unfortunately differed
from many of his companions in that he
was not his own master, but was blessed
OF cursed with a somewhat stern and
Pharisaical father. who could not he in
duced 10 look upon his various peccadil-
loes in SO charitable and indulgent a
manner rs his son could have wished.
Dett was an abomination 10 Townley
pere, horse racing he looked upon as an
invention Of Satan, and gamblers he con-
sidered as pests of society. He allowed
his son a fairly liberal income, but he
expected that Jack should keep strictly
within MS bounds. and the shifts and de-
vices 10 which that young gentleman
wa reduced whenever a run Of had luck
or an Unforeseen call made the raising Of
additional funds indispensable would fill
a volume, 1t is with the curious result
of one If these stratagms that the pres.
ent narrative deals.
Jack had had a very had seasons
racine. III luck IT EPSON hal been fol-
lowed 10y disaster at Ascot. polwopl
failed Ia improve matters, and ihr autumn
handicapS merely helpel 10 increase his
embarrasSments. OF course. therefore.
he was compelled To borrow money. and
he did 50 at the rates which are COM
monty charged by benevolent us,rers 10
gentlemen in his unfortunate position.
Chief among his creditors was a certain
Dir. Beng. who. however. differed from
the ordinary moncy lender in mHny very
important pariiculr r.. In the first place.
Mr.. Bengo, il not precisely n gentleman.
was al least a vcrg good imitation of n
Though rr;lSpual ~ suspected Of Jewish
descent, he was lot a member of the He
brew communiiy, and neither his fea-
tureSS, lr'SS 1r manner ohtrlSively
suggested an ohstcrn origin. He had heen
al Harrow AMI at Cambridge. was blessed
with an abundance of this worlds goods.
ami had cuurgivel not merely 10 get linn
self eloctrl e. several good clubs. hut To
obtain a more or les secure fo1ting in So
ciety. Mr.. inngn. in fact. had the repu-
tation Of lying a good naturel, obliging
individual, ever ready to help a friend
out If a %pssrInidry difficulty. and en-
cepinnal,v uIra handed in money
matters. SOMEHOW nr another il came
abput TINT whenever an ~cxtravagant
young WASHED disappeared into space
without paying hir 30 cnllel debts of honor
Mr.. ia,lgu wls prr;ty certain To le set
down uoa heavy loser 10y his dcfalcations:
but Wien. on the Other hand. one uf these
young gentlemen. owing L. the uIportune
death If lis father, uncle or other rela-
ton. came" into "a handsome fortune. il
never t~ranSpired that Mr.. Bcngo had made
a very good thing out If him. For Mr..
Bengo was not ~ foolish as TODD his bust
Ness directly, except in a very few in
lance His usual mode Of operation was
TO recommend a third party, an uhliging
person. who. upon his introduction. would
lend almost any amount upon note II
hand. Hence ii came 10 pas, that when
ever jack Townlcv got into difficulties he
applied to Mr.. Bengo for advice. and that
gentleman, who knew everybody and
everything, invariably succeeded in find
ing for him a way of getting ont # them.
But Jacks credit was 10y no means UNI
limited. and Of late Mr.. Bengo. after many
proteStations that such a thing was not
at all in his line. had consented not only
30 advance money 10 his friend. but to
take up Jacks liabilities tn numerous
members uf the money lending fraternity
to whom he was indebted. And the re-
suit If all this WAS that Jack owed Mr..
Bengo some $1,000, which he was wholly
unable Ia pay.
The situation was distinctly unIlcas-
ant. Mr.. Bengo was not an impprtunaie
creditor, but be- had dropped SON" rr'tty
strong hints Of hate that he wHs short Of
money. and wanted at least a thousand
or two on account.
'l}gti cant pay, my good fellow
Jack confessed.
WHY don't YOU apply to your
father responded Mr. Bngu.
Il darrn't: hc would cut nan ntT. Why.
II h. knew ! Dwell 10000 h. would have
a fit.
''Nuu~ense, man.: fathers always talk
about cutting their sons uiT, but they
never do il. Ii will have To "duDr soon,
81 YOU hail lsttcr make your I3ind mp. =
Il al YOU what" said jack, d,~I"r-
ately: they are going Ia shoot ia" covers
at I0wnlry Court next wOck. Come
down and SEE the old man for yourself;
you will understand then"
Delighted, ! am sure replied Mr..
Bengo, with vcilcd cxlItation, for Town
ley Court happened to h. one II the
houses to which, in spite Of his intimacy
with Jack, h. had never yet lsvn invited,
Sir John Townley being "A very still and
exclusive individual. who was very par
tculaT about the social status. manne
and reputation Of his guests.
IAN right, said Jack. hooking rather
nervous; TON Bilapm is coming next
Tuesday-yOu can run down together.
I've got Ia tart tomorrow, A"
Mr. Tom Bil-1m was a lively and popu-
lar young doctor, who had moro than
once been indebted ~ Mr, Icngo for as
sistance IN overcoming prpuiNy cmhar.
EASEMENTS, caused Wy an undGc cxtraya-
gance in living and a tastn fDr high play.
Hence the two gentlemen wcrr vtry good
friends.
Accordingly, on the following Tues
day. the pair started togrthcr for Town
L., T,,,,t anil Mr. Rance Y.s.,-aUg Ia.